Drivers along the Hairini Bridge are being urged to maintain their speed and not slow down during water-based investigation works.

Tauranga City Council will be carrying out investigations on the Hairini Bridge from today, until Friday, February 13.

The work would be done from a boat on the Waimapu Estuary.

“While none of the work will be on-road, Tauranga City Council encourages drivers not to slow their speed to have a look so traffic can continue to flow without interruption,” council said in a statement.

“All activities would be below the bridge using a pontoon boat fitted with a small mobile scaffold tower.”

Council said the piles would be cleaned with a water blaster to allow close visual inspection and bridge reinforcement scanned with ground penetrating radar.

There would also be some sample drilling.

“Contractors would be complying with all environmental considerations, including not disturbing the protected white-fronted terns that nest on the piers, and containing any debris in the boat, however, the work may discolour the water, either from the pier cleaning or sediment stirred up from the estuary bottom.”

The work is part of the 15th Ave to Welcome Bay project, which would see improvements aimed at reducing congestion and improving transport choice, council said.

Traffic on State Highway 2A towards Turret Rd, Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

Plans include three-laning Hairini Bridge to enable two traffic lanes citybound in the morning, changing to two lanes towards Welcome Bay in the evening, as well as a clip-on shared use path for walking and cycling.

Council said the investigations would help determine the expected remaining useful life of the bridge and the seismic capacity of the existing bridge and piers.

For more information about the 15th Ave to Welcome Bay project visit Tauranga City Council’s website.